First Live Lobster Shipment via Fresh Lane: Seamless Delivery from Canada to Macao

Air-Land Fresh Lane extends to Macao (with photos/video)

The Air-Land Fresh Lane has reached another milestone. A shipment of live lobsters weighing 986 kilograms arrived in Hong Kong yesterday (April 22) by air from Canada, and was immediately transhipped by a cross-border refrigerated truck across the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) directly to Macao. This marks the first consignment of overseas fresh products delivered to Macao via Hong Kong utilising the Fresh Lane, realising a seamless "Overseas-Hong Kong-Macao" one-stop delivery.

The extension of the Fresh Lane to Macao was attributed to the concerted efforts and co-operation of the governments of Hong Kong and Macao. This was also the first time that Hong Kong Customs applied the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Three-Places-One-Lock Scheme (Hong Kong-Macao Section) to the Fresh Lane, implementing closed-loop management with real-time monitoring throughout the entire process by using the same e-lock and GPS devices.

In addition, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department has exempted the registration requirement of food importers participating in the Fresh Lane, further expediting the food clearance procedures and facilitating business. This allows fresh products to be transported directly to Macao using the "Through Truck Transportation" model after customs clearance at the air cargo terminal at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), ensuring a seamless end-to-end process. The new arrangement has significantly shortened clearance time, reduced losses of fresh aquatic products, and helped preserve the freshness of the ingredients. Macao importers have also expressed satisfaction with the new operation model, noting that it has effectively improved logistics efficiency and preserved product quality.

The Fresh Lane has successfully facilitated the transhipment of over 420 tonnes of overseas fresh products to the Chinese Mainland since its launch last year, achieving remarkable results and positive feedback from the industry. The transhipped products include chilled tuna, live lobsters, live geoducks, live eels, cherries and grapes.

Hong Kong Customs has always adhered to its mission of "stringent enforcement and trade facilitation" and has been working closely with the trade industry to promote a series of innovative trade facilitating measures, thereby consolidating Hong Kong's leading position as an international aviation hub. Looking ahead, Hong Kong Customs will continue to promote the use of the Fresh Lane, further deepen co-operation among Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, and advance the high-quality integrated development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

The Air-LandFresh Lane was fully launched on September 26, 2025, aiming to utilise the strengths of HKIA and the HZMB to facilitate overseas fruits, chilled and live seafood being imported into the Mainland with streamlined customs clearance while empowering high-quality fresh products from the Mainland to go global, thereby developing the HZMB into a "green channel" for fresh products.

Air-Land Fresh Lane extends to Macao (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Air-Land Fresh Lane extends to Macao (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Two incoming passengers convicted and jailed for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes

Two incoming passengers were sentenced to three months' and two months' imprisonment respectively by the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (April 23) for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).

Customs officers intercepted a 46-year-old incoming female passenger and her accompanying child at the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point yesterday (April 22). Officers discovered that the female passenger had concealed 1 381 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $5,660 and a duty potential of about $4,560, in the backpack carried by her accompanying child. The female passenger was subsequently arrested, and she was sentenced to three months' imprisonment by the Courts today.

In addition, Customs officers intercepted an incoming 50-year-old male passenger at the same control point on the same day and seized 5 441 duty-not-paid cigarettes from his personal baggage. The estimated market value of the seized cigarettes was about $22,300, and the duty potential was about $17,900. The male passenger was subsequently arrested, and he was sentenced to two months' imprisonment by the Courts today.

Customs welcomes the sentences, noting that even a first-time offender may still be imprisoned. The custodial sentences have imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflect the seriousness of the offences. Members of the public should not defy the law.

Customs reminds members of the public that under the DCO, cigarettes are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk)or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Two incoming passengers convicted and jailed for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Two incoming passengers convicted and jailed for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases